Arsenal manager Unai Emery has admitted that he is pleased with the commitment shown from Granit Xhaka despite the Switzerland international playing out of position during the recent north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur. The Gunners had gone into the game with just one senior centre-back available in the form of Sokratis and this witnessed Xhaka slot into the heart of the defence not for the first time.

Still, the presence could not prevent the Gunners suffering a 2-0 defeat in the League Cup quarter-final but Emery was nonetheless pleased with the Swiss’ commitment in a tough situation for the club, he said: “The players are helping us with their commitment, playing in different positions because the team needs them sometimes like today, because after Sunday it was a lot of minutes on the pitch for Koscielny to play today 90 minutes. He is helping [Xhaka] and I am happy with him and his performance because his commitment to help us is very important.”

Switzerland international Xherdan Shaqiri has hit back at the criticism labelled by Gary Neville earlier in the year.

The Manchester United legend had suggested that the attacker was ‘unprofessional’ and ‘inconsistent’ after he made the surprise switch to Liverpool from Stoke City in July but he has since managed to outdo his expectations with the new club.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has heaped praise on the showing of Xherdan Shaqiri and believes the attacker can become even more influential for the Merseyside outfit. The Switzerland international joined the Reds from Stoke City during the summer transfer window and he was widely expected to perform the back-up duties behind Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane.

However, over the past month, he has managed to become more of a regular from the starting line-up and his performance during that period has unquestionably impressed Klopp. Speaking after the Reds’ 2-0 triumph over Fulham, Klopp was pleased with the progress made by Shaqiri since joining the club and tipped him to be decisive for the club as the season continues.

Arsenal legend-turned-pundit Martin Keown believes summer signing Lucas Torreira has revived the career of Granit Xhaka. The Switzerland international was constantly criticised for his limited mobility during the previous campaign but such issues have been few and far between this season with Torreira making up the hard yards to intercept play.

In a report covered by Metro, Keown cited that he is pleased with the club’s overturning their poor away form, which was a highlight through the 2017/18 campaign. He added that he was impressed with the grit and determination of the whole side during the recent 5-1 mauling of Fulham while indicating the balance brought about by Torreira - who has allowed Xhaka to be more creative.

Arsenal boss Unai Emery has indicated that Granit Xhaka’s goal during the second half was influential the Gunners’ triumph over Newcastle United on Saturday. The north Londoners endured a tricky first half where they were pressurised from a number of set-pieces from the Magpies but they managed to hold on without conceding until the break.

Thereafter, Emery’s men showed their class with Granit Xhaka netting a 49th-minute with a neat free-kick and the lead was doubled before the hour mark after Mesut Ozil scored in what was his 200th appearance for the club. The Magpies were never in the game during the second period but they managed to provide a nervy ending for the Gunners after scoring a consolation two minutes from time.

Switzerland international Xherdan Shaqiri is aiming to winning trophies with Liverpool having joined them from Stoke City earlier in the summer. The attacker had made his mind up to leave the Potters following their top-flight relegation last term and Jurgen Klopp thereafter managed to pounce on his services after his impressive display at the World Cup.

Speaking to reporters, Shaqiri has now suggested his ambition to win regular silverware with the Reds and believes the club are more than capable of doing so after showcasing their dominance over Manchester City last season, he said: “For me, nothing is impossible. We can be everything we want to be. We beat Manchester City in the league and the Champions League last season so I think we can beat anyone in the world. It has to be our ambition to compete with the best and to go on the field against whoever we play trying to win the game and dominate the game. Our aim is to win as many titles as possible. That is the goal of the club now and we are looking forward to the season.”

Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam has criticised former teammate Xherdan Shaqiri shortly after making the switch to Premier League side Liverpool. The Switzerland international had been one of the Potters’ most influential performers over the past three seasons but Adam has put the blame on the attacker following the Potters’ relegation to the Championship.

Speaking on TalkSPORT, Adams said that Shaqiri was one of the players, who failed to show up for the Potters last term after they were pushed into a relegation battle, he said: “Was he one of them? Oh, definitely.When the chips are down you look at your big players, you want your big players to bring magic in one moment in the season, and at times we felt like the so-called big players in the squad never turned up for us and never performed.Yeah, everybody else could help, but for all the plaudits to so-called bigger players we getting from certain members of the management staff last season - they weren't producing.”

Switzerland vice-captain Valon Behrami has assured that Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri won’t repeat the Eagle celebration which could have quit easily got them suspended during the World Cup. The pair made the two-headed Eagles gesture during their previous group stage game against Serbia and shortly after, their opponents reported the incident to FIFA.

Initially, there were suggestions that the duo could be suspended for at least two international matches but after a show of leniency, FIFA decide to fine $10,000 from each whilst captain Stephan Lichtsteiner was fined around $5,000 for joining in the celebration despite having no link with Albanian, who are said to have a poor political relationship with Serbia.

ESPN Pundit Brian McBride believes Arsenal should consider recruiting another defensive midfielder during the summer transfer window. The Gunners have utilised the services of Granit Xhaka in the position without much success of late and the former Fulham star feels the club should add more competition within the ranks. Speaking on ESPN, he said: “They need a defensive midfielder. Xhaka I don’t think is enough of a disrupter. Sure, he fouls a lot, but it’s because he gets out of position.So I’m anxious to see who they purchase.”

Meanwhile, McBride feels Unai Emery will bring a different managerial style at Arsenal in comparison to how he worked with his former clubs, he added: “They’re getting a meticulous manager. They’re getting somebody who looks at an opponent and then tries to ensure his team are set up to, not only defend that opponent, but eventually beat that opponent.”
Arsenal endured an average season last term as they finished sixth in the standings with 63 points and the board are likely to make efforts in order to revive the club’s prospects of making the top four. The holding midfield and central defensive positions were of primary concern during the previous campaign and it will be interesting to see as to which kind of budget Emery will be offered for the summer.

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has escaped a serious knee injury during a training session with Switzerland. The 25-year-old recently suffered a nasty collision with compatriot Valon Behrami in training and reports thereafter suggested that he could miss his country’s campaign at the summer World Cup.

However, fortunately for him, the injury appears only a minor one and the Swiss team doctor has now confirmed that he should return to normal duties at the World Cup, he said: “I'm very relieved. We could already see that the ligaments were intact, but we wanted to play it safe, also with regard to the meniscus. We are very relieved that it is only a painful bone bruise - and very grateful that we were able to do an MRI scan late in the evening.”